John Huff/Staff photographerMonkey Hut owner Chuck McGonagle is selling most of his equipment and inventory as he prepares to close the doors on his Broadway eatery in Dover.

DOVER — After a year and a half in business, Monkey Hut is closing its doors on Sunday.

Owner Chuck McGonagle said his strong following and nice customers were not enough to support his restaurant, which hosted a variety of food options from hot dogs and hamburgers to salads, quesadillas and fried dough.

“It just was not enough business,” McGonagle said. “Things were humming along really well, honestly, but the reason is because they started road construction out here this summer and it was like somebody flipped a switch.”

McGonagle said his profits were slashed when detours popped up on either side of his business, shutting down access to Monkey Hut’s front door at 50 Broadway St.

“I just haven’t been able to get it back and it just isn’t worth it for me anymore,” he said. “I take one day off a year, for Christmas, and that is the way it has been for the last four years. I do 90 hours a week, and I knew that coming into it, I’m not complaining, but it’s not a lot of money and it’s like, no more. It’s not worth it.”

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John Huff/Staff photographer
The equipment and inventory are prepared for sale as Monkey Hut owner Chuck McGonagle prepares to close the doors on his Broadway eatery in Dover.

McGonagle has worked in restaurants for over 25 years, with his previous restaurant being Monkey Dogs in Somersworth. He also had started his own dessert hummus business, Crazy Camel, which became too much for him to handle as he struggled to find an investor.

“The hot dog business was the one that was paying the bills, so I went with that instead of the pipe dream” he said. “Now I am just done.”

From now until Sunday, McGonagle will have a number of items for sale throughout his restaurant, including posters, trinkets, benches, signs, paintings, tools and sports memorabilia starting at just $1.

“I’ll miss working with my daughter the most. She has been in kitchens with me since she was 15,” he said. “It is sad in one way, because you almost feel like you failed, but on the other hand, I know I worked as much as I could.”